January 22, 2003 Seattle City Council
Proclamation

Whereas,
January 22, 2003 marks the thirtieth anniversary of the United States Supreme
Court's landmark decision, Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion and recognized
women's freedom of reproductive choice as essential to the lives, rights, health
and equality of women; and

Whereas,
throughout Seattle, hundreds of doctors, nurses and clinic workers have devoted
their medical careers ensuring that women of Seattle have access to safe and legal
reproductive health services as an option, including abortions, while often putting
their own safety at great risk due to harassment and violent opposition; and

Whereas,
illegal abortion before 1973 caused the death of hundreds of women annually, and
thousands more were seriously injured, which caused great anguish to families
and to the fabric of U.S. society; and

Whereas,
hospital emergency rooms previously had specialized wards that treated women maimed
from illegal abortion; now, these wards are no longer necessary due to the positive
public health effects of safe, legal abortion; and

Whereas,
every day women's health clinics in Seattle provide safe reproductive healthcare
services to women from all over the Pacific Northwest, including the most marginalized
women: low-income women, young women, women of color, non-English speaking women,
refugee women, and immigrant women; and

Whereas,
the constitutional right to abortion as embodied in Roe v. Wade not only recognized
women's right to exercise reproductive choice, it also has saved women's lives
and strengthened families; and

Whereas,
the right to safe, legal and accessible abortion continues
to be undermined by various state and federal initiatives;

NOW
THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL, that we recognize this
30th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and praise the perilous, self-sacrificing work
of the healthcare providers in the City of Seattle who must face threats and violence
for providing safe and legal reproductive health services for women throughout
our City and State.